Question to the Home Office:

To ask the Secretary of State for the Home Department, if she will hold discussions with the the College of Policing on its authorised professional practice guidance entitled Media relations, published on 15 August 2025.

On 13 August 2025, the College of Policing published interim guidance for police forces on the disclosure of suspects’ ethnicity and nationality in serious cases. This interim guidance is included in the College’s public consultation of the Media and Communications Authorised Professional Practice (APP), formerly the Media Relations APP which launched on 5 November 2025. The public are invited to share their views on the guidance as part of this consultation, which will conclude in January next year.

Guidance on police communications for officers is provided by the College of Policing, which operates independently of government. Forces are responsible for implementing this guidance, and officers are expected to exercise professional judgement in line with the law and operational priorities.

Ministers regularly meet with the National Police Chiefs’ Council (NPCC) and College of Policing as part of their responsibilities to maintain oversight and discuss policing priorities.